Greetings!
Spring is officially here, and warmer weather is on the way. We have a variety of updates to share with you, including preliminary information around the R&D bond which passed last November, an AI initiative, and our goal to attract a life sciences incubator to Maine.
First, with spring upon us, we are ramping up planning for our networking event as part of Startup Maine, May 21 from 4:30-6:30 in Portland. This is a great opportunity to showcase your business and connect with industry leaders! If interested in exhibiting, please complete this form by April 18, 2025.
We have begun fleshing out the R&D bond program and hope to have the parameters drafted for the MTI Board to review and consider in April or May. Once the Board gives us the greenlight, we will then conduct listening sessions with businesses, as well as ecosystem partners and stakeholders throughout Maine. Those informative sessions should enable us to begin soliciting proposals before summer. The application period will likely last 6–8-weeks, and following MTI’s review and evaluation process, we anticipate making award announcements by late summer or early fall. This funding is specifically designated for capital projects — brick and mortar, land purchases, equipment and machinery procurement, and certain technology upgrades.
MTI is excited to announce MERC-AI, a new initiative designed to help Maine businesses explore and adopt artificial intelligence. Through a partnership with Coursera, we are offering free access to a Generative AI course catalog featuring 350+ courses covering everything from AI fundamentals to industry-specific applications, such as AI for marketing and grant writing. This opportunity is available for MTI-eligible businesses looking to integrate AI into their operations. We aim to foster AI accessibility, equipping Maine companies with the knowledge they need to stay competitive as AI rapidly transforms the business landscape. Stay tuned for details!
Lastly, MTI’s Lead E-Resident, Matt Hoffner, continues to meet with key stakeholders to garner information and compile feedback regarding our plan to develop and introduce a $2 million program designed to cultivate a life sciences incubator in Maine. As part of this broader initiative, we are partnering with FocusMaine to conduct a feasibility assessment over the next month to better prepare us to launch the funding solicitation later this spring.
Best,
Brian